When Rotarian and Adult Scouter Penelope Colly recently told me that, as part of Hoedspruit Rotary’s Youth Leadership Development programme, ten scouts from the Acornhoek Scout Group would be sponsored to attend a Koru Camp experience, it set off a flood of memories.
I was reminded of my grandmother, who proudly wore the title of King Scout. She once told me how she had hosted Lord Robert Baden-Powell – the retired British Army Lieutenant-General and founder of the Scouting movement – on her farm Kleine Zalze in Stellenbosch. I can still picture her donning her Girl Guide uniform for me, heavy with badges, and photos of her and Baden-Powell together. Where those precious relics are today, I have no idea. Sadly, my search for more about their friendship yielded little, and the older family members who might have known the stories are long gone.
It was while holidaying in Gordon’s Bay that Baden-Powell, then Chief Scout, issued one of his famous Christmas messages, calling on all Scouts “to entertain their poorer neighbours of all classes in some “Scouty” way, and show them what Scouting is and what a jolly, happy brotherhood we are.” I have no doubt he would have been immensely proud of the Acornhoek Scouts today – and perhaps he would encourage them to reach out and initiate the formation of a Scout Group right here in Hoedspruit, where, surprisingly, no such movement yet exists.
Interestingly, Rotary International was founded just two years before the Scout movement, and their founders – Paul Harris and Baden-Powell – were well acquainted. It’s no wonder the two organisations share such deep parallels in their values of service, leadership, and community.
Baden-Powell’s early visits to South Africa and Mozambique were military in nature, yet it was in the Matopo Hills, where he claimed to have had “the time of my life” and that many of his ideas for Scouting began to take shape. My own research took me on an unexpected journey: during his reconnaissance missions along the Mozambican coast, Baden-Powell spent time at Inhambane’s Barra Beach—the very same stretch where my family has owned a holiday cottage for over 20 years. It turns out, his naval operations took place just offshore, at the only safe anchorage for large boats within the coral reefs.
The threads connecting these two global organisations continue to amaze me. Nelson Mandela received Rotary International’s highest humanitarian honour, the Rotary Foundation Award, in recognition of his service to humanity. He was also a Patron of Scouts South Africa, and the movement continues to honour him annually on Mandela Day. In fact, he was presented with the Africa Elephant Award—Scouting’s highest distinction on the continent.
Given their shared commitment to community upliftment and character development, it’s little surprise that Rotary and Scouting have joined hands so often. A perfect example is the 39-foot cruising yacht “Rotary Scout”, owned by Scouts South Africa. Sponsored by Rotary International, it supports an extensive sailing programme that trains scouts and offers development opportunities to underprivileged youth.
The transformation these young South Africans experience through Rotary-sponsored leadership programmes is profound. Many return home deeply moved, speaking of “overcoming fears and challenges,” “understanding your place in the world,” and “gaining friends who keep you accountable to your promises.”
Penelope Colly proudly reports that the 2025 group of scouts who attended the Rotary leadership programme at Koru Camp excelled in all their scouting exams and returned with renewed confidence and purpose.
Together, Rotary and Scouting continue to shape tomorrow’s leaders – young people grounded in service, resilience, and a sense of belonging to something far greater than themselves.
